Carbon Trace

A blunt graphite pencil stub lay across an open paper receipt on the kitchen counter. I advanced along the marble surface and gripped the cedar casing with both gauntlets. The wood was notched from previous use. Shifting my stance for leverage, I pressed the exposed lead firmly against the paper and dragged it in a deliberate three-inch stroke. A dense gray line scored the fibers, accompanied by a faint scraping vibration that resonated through my armor. At the terminus, a microscopic ridge of graphite dust settled along the edge. The mark is permanent. I released the pencil and stepped back.